Easy-Peasy Art Project...

This art project is perfect for pulling a room together. It's inexpensive, AND it's easy...double bonus!!

All you need to complete this project is:

-Two canvases in the size of your choice
-Three or four paint colours that coordinate with your space (try picking from a fabric or bedspread in the space for a super-easy palette...you can also "layer" colours for more depth by picking different shades in the same family) Buy $3 test pots for the best quality paints.
-A neutral background colour (cream or white)
-Painter's tape in various widths
-Paint brushes

Instructions:

1. Paint the canvas with two coats of your white or cream paint.
2. Randomly space your tape to create nice straight stripes in various sizes.
3. After you have taped out the stripes, apply a light coat of your background paint over top of your tape, paying special attention to the seams. This will prevent the paint from bleeding through.
4. Allow the paint to dry fully.
5. Paint stripes in a pattern of your choice.
6. Remove the tape before the paint dries to avoid peeling.

You don't have to be an artist to create simple, custom art pieces for your home...you just have to give this simple technique a try! Let me know if you do!
I'll show you how I used these pieces in my bedroom when I do the reveal later on this week.

Welcome 2011

I must admit, I am sad to say goodbye to 2010. With a wedding, honeymoon, new job, lots of new friendships forged and the acquisition of a soda stream, it will be hard to top. I am moving forward into 2011 with the sole resolution to get more organized...luckily for me, an unfortunate NYE accident has rendered me house-bound, so I'll have a lot of time this weekend to put my plans into action. Lots of closets to clean out, and unused items to give away.

As you may know I love to meal plan, I am currently using this lovely scribble menu planner from the lovely, artistic folks over at Ollibird.



I am planning to make it more permanent by printing it onto magnet paper and laminating it, so it can hang out on my fridge.

This lovely alternative option offers a bit more space and more organizational possibilities.



Click here for the link to download these yourself and laminate them or throw them into picture frames to track your own meals. Also, visit Ollibird for more cool downloads (free!) and tutorials. Their Etsy shop Loveland Miscellany by Ollibird is also worth a visit...it has some super-cute, unique and affordable art prints for sale.

Monogram Tutorial...

I love the idea of a custom monogram. These beauties can be used for a wedding, or for any general stationery purposes. I know it's bad luck to use a monogram before the wedding (hence my own clever idea, to be revealed later on in this post) so it's a no-no on the invites, but at the reception, it can be used judiciously. Here are some examples of monograms that I whipped up using Microsoft Word...I love to mix and match fonts, and try different styles. I know that I'm certainly not a graphic designer, but I think they turned out quite all right.

I created this monogram of sorts to go on our Save the Date magnet cards...


Incidentally, we chose this image as the background of the magnets...Hopefully I'll have more on our Save the Dates for you next Wednesday


I made this semi-traditional version for a more formal event. It would also be lovely as the cover of a thank-you card...


This, more tailored version would suit a more modern affair...



Now for the how-to:

Step one: For each name, symbol or letter you want to have in your monogram, create a new text box. Vary the fonts and the font sizes for more visual interest.

Step two: To format each text box select "no fill" and "no line." That will ensure that you will be able to layer your letters without having to deal with borders...

Step three: Arrange the text boxes in the formation that you like.

Step four: Admire.

Easy, right? If anything is unclear, comment and I'll clarify it for you....Just use your favourite fonts, and your creativity to create a monogram that represents you and your significant other.

Now for my oh-so-clever idea to incorporate our "initial" before the day. Since our last name will start with a "B," I thought, 'why not incorporate a "bee" in lieu of the actual letter?' I have always LOVED vintage honey bee stationery, so it was a perfect solution. I found a gorgeous vintage bee stamp on Etsy, bought a gold stamp pad and went to work. The effect is somehing like this:


I think the effect is absolutely stunning...and ultimately, when it comes to a wedding, that's all that matters.